Destruction of the Membrana Tympani. 447 
disease remains. In the commencement of this complaint, it 
may be cured by the application of such stimulants as are ca- 
pable of exciting a discharge from the ceruminous glands ; 
which stimulants ought to be introduced into the meatus, for 
that purpose. If these are used so as to irritate, without exciting 
a discharge, they are rather prejudicial than otherwise. But, if 
the organ has been long neglected, and the disease has been 
suffered to make considerable progress, I believe that no hope 
of cure can be rationally entertained.* 
There is another cause of deafness, to which I fear no art of 
the surgeon can apply a remedy ; this is, an alteration of the 
contents of the labyrinth. The interior part of the ear, called 
the labyrinth, is naturally filled with water, upon which the 
auditory nerve is expanded ; and it is by the undulations of this 
fluid, that impressions are made upon the nerve, and conveyed 
to the brain. 
If a solid substance be generated in this part of the ear, instead 
of the fluid, the powers of hearing will be destroyed, or at least 
very considerably impaired. From the following dissection, this 
would appear to be at least one cause of deafness in those who 
are born with this infirmity, and w 7 ho are also dumb, unless 
assisted by particular instructions. 
Mr. Cline, being requested by Dr. Walshman, of Ken- 
nington, to examine the head of a young man who had died of 
a fever, and who had been born deaf, and was consequently 
dumb, found, upon dissecting the organs of hearing, all the 
parts perfectly formed, and as usual in a healthy ear, except 
* I have, in several cases of this kind, made trial of the operation of opening the 
membrana tympani, without finding that it afforded any other relief than that of dimi* 
nishing the noise in the head, which always accompanies it. 
